Friends Forever Chapter 2
Lacey Callahan and Iesha Keshawn walked into their
dorm room after their fabulous lunch at the Planet Hollywood with the
guys. It was around three o'clock and Iesha had exchanged phone numbers
with Kevin, so maybe they could go for coffee later on in the afternoon.
Lacey noticed their answering machine button flashing, so she pressed
the retrieve button.
"I wonder who has called us," commented Iesha, as she opened her
suitcase. She was supposed to be at her father's one hour before because
they were going to have a family dinner before Iesha flew off to spend
the holidays with her mother in South Africa.
"Hi Iesha, it's daddy," the tape machine said and Iesha drop the purple
shirt she was holding. "I am very sorry to tell you, but I am unable to
make it for our dinner tonight because I have to fly out to Japan on
business right now. Please understand honey. Your flight to SA leaves
today at eight o'clock. Maybe one of your friends could bring you there.
Sorry honey. Merry Christmas."
"Damn him," Iesha cried, as tears streamed down her face.
"Iesha, it's okay," Lacey soothed her, putting her arm around her.
"You don't understand Lacey," Iesha cried shaking her head. "My father
hasn't spent Christmas with me in years. He won't even cancel his damn
business meeting to spend one lousy hour with me. Mommy has always been
there for me, but my father is never there for me."
"I'm so sorry Iesha," Lacey whispered and Iesha looked at her best friend.
"It's not your fault Lace," Iesha smiled through her tears. "You are the
only one there for me in Canada anyway. Well, let's see. Would you like
to go to the airport with me?"
"Yeah sure," Lacey answered smiling back. "You know, you'll have an
awesome time at your mom's. Your new sister is going to be there. Don't
you love her?"
"Yeah, Christmas with mom is always wonderful," Iesha answered, standing
up. She picked up the purple shirt, and began throwing her clothes into
it. "So, when are you going home?"
"Well, my dad is coming to get me tomorrow afternoon," Lacey answered as
she helped Iesha pack.
"What are you going to do tonight?" Iesha wanted to know. "You are going
to be all alone."
"Well, remember Nichole? Well, she asked me if I wanted to go clubbing
with her and her friends," Lacey replied.
"Lacey, party animal," Iesha commented, teasing her. "You haven't been
to a club in your life and you're only 18. How are you going to get in?"
Lacey thought of it and remembered Nichole said she would have no problem.
"Nic knows some famous people or something," Lacey answered. "She
already said I'd have no problem."
"That's so awesome," Iesha said, as she smiled at her best friend.
"Lacey, all your dreams are coming true. Do you realize that?"
"Iesha, I know," Lacey answered, as she sat down on her bed. "I can't
believe I was just in a Backstreet Boys video and now, I am going
clubbing with a famous model. Oh Iesha, I wish you could come tonight."
"No Lacey, it's your turn to be the star," Iesha told her as someone
knocked on the door.
"I wonder who that is," commented Lacey, as Iesha answered the door. She
opened it to see Christian McKinnley standing there with two of his
friends, Michael and Hunter, who happened to be Iesha's ex-boyfriend.
Lacey stared at Christian. He was so hot, with thick blond hair that was
on the longer side, blue eyes that made Lacey melt, and a smile that
lightened up any room he entered. He was also a sweetheart, a huge
football player, and very smart.
"Hello ladies," Christian said smiling at them. "I think we have the
wrong dorm. Sorry."
"Hi, who are you looking for?" Iesha asked them. "You can come in, but
Hunter stay out there." Christian and Michael came in, and when Hunter
tried coming in, Iesha slammed the door in his face.
"We're looking for some girl named Tiffany Houston," Michael replied, as
he glanced at Lacey for the first time.
"Oh, she's the dorm next door," Iesha told them. "How come Hunter didn't
tell you this was my dorm?"
"Hunter wanted to aggravate you," Christian admitted and he noticed
Lacey looking at him. "Hi, I don't believe we've met."
"That's my roommate Lacey," Iesha introduced them. "She's not around
much because she's a model."
"A model? Really? Where do you model?" Christian wanted to know.
"Catalogues and stuff, that's it," Lacey said softly and Christian
smiled at her.
"She just did a music video today," Iesha informed Christian and
Michael.
"Oh yeah, which one?" Michael asked her and Lacey wanted to kill Iesha.
There was nobody she wanted everyone knowing she had been in a
Backstreet Boys music video that morning.
"Backstreet Boys," Iesha answered for her because she knew how nervous
Lacey was around Christian.
"Backstreet Boys? Interesting," Christian commented, as he saw Iesha's
suitcase. "So, where are you going?"
"I'm going back to my mom's house in South Africa," Iesha answered
giving Lacey a Look to speak up. "Lacey's going back to Hamilton with
her parents tomorrow night."
"Oh really? I'm from Hamilton as well," Christian told Lacey. "Which part?"
"The north side," Lacey answered, finally speaking up. "How about you?"
"The north side as well," Christian replied, as she stood up. "Which
highschool did you go to?"
"Huntington High," Lacey said smiling at him. "How about you?"
"Oh, I was away at a boarding school in England," Christian replied, as
he saw Michael motion they had to leave, as someone knocked on the door again
"Hunter, I'm gonna kick your butt," Iesha snapped at the door.
"Come on Iesha, baby, it's cold out here," Hunter whined behind the door.
"You dumped me remember?" Iesha snapped back.
"We're coming Hunter," Christian yelled back. "Well ladies, it was nice
meeting you. Iesha, have fun at your mom's, and Lacey, maybe we could go
for coffee sometime."
"I would love to," Lacey said immediately and Christian smiled at her.
"My numbers in the book, look me up," Christian told her and she smiled back.
"I will," Lacey said, as the waved and within seconds were gone.
"Lacey, omigoodness, yes," Iesha shrieked. "Christian likes you."
"He was just being nice," Lacey informed Iesha. "You'd better hurry
because we have to be to the airport in an hour." Iesha glanced at the
clock and gasped.
"We'd better hurry," Iesha said as she frantically finished her packing.
*********************************
Lacey arrived back for the airport in a taxi, as she
checked her watch, and noticed Nichole was going to be coming back in
like an half-an-hour. She thought back to what a good day she had
experienced so far. She had met the Backstreet Boys, been in their music
video, and Christian had asked her out. She was beyond happy, and to top
it off, Christmas was just around the corner. She wondered if Christian
and her would be together at Christmas, but she didn't want things to go
fast. She ran into the door, and looked through her closet for something
to wear. She picked out a nice long, flowered skirt, a black, matching
cardigan, and a pair of black loafers.
An half-an-hour later, she was standing outside the
residence as her familiar classmates said hello, and headed home for the
holidays. Snow was falling all around Lacey in melodic patterns, and she
smiled at the snowman that someone had built that morning. It was all
most six o'clock, and she was already missing Iesha. She wished she
could have come with Nichole and her to the club, but it was going to be
a fabulous night because Nichole was so nice and she had hinted that
some of the Backstreet Boys may be coming out with them. The same white
limo that had picked her up that morning, pulled out, but a different
driver stepped out.
"Hello Miss," the driver said causally, as he opened the door for her.
Lacey looked in the limo to see AJ, Nichole, an unfamiliar guy that
Lacey guessed was Nichole's fiancee Travis, Brian, and Nick. She figured
that some of Nichole's girlfriends were going to be there, but never
would have imagined she was going clubbing with the Backstreet Boys.
"Hi," Brian said, as Lacey stepped in. "How are you?"
"I'm okay," Lacey answered smiling. She stepped in and sat beside Nick.
"How are you all doing?"
"Good Lacey, meet Travis, my significant other," Nichole said and Lacey
smiled at Travis."Nice to meet you," Travis told Lacey.
"So, why are you so happy?" Nick asked Lacey and he could tell she was
very happy. "Nothing much really," Lacey answered.
"Come on Lacey, you are lying, something special happened, tell us," AJ
said to her and Lacey smiled.
"Well, never mind," Lacey replied. She wasn't about to tell them she was
going out maybe with Christian.
"Guys, leave her alone," Nichole told them. "Okay, so, where are we going?"
"How about some dinner?" AJ suggested and Nichole laughed.
"Alex, you are always so hungry," Nichole commented and everyone laughed.
"McDonalds sounds good," AJ said and Lacey smiled, as Nick touched her arm.
"Hey, come on, tell me why you are so happy," Nick bugged her and Lacey smiled.
"Well, don't tell anyone else, do you promise?" Lacey asked him and Nick
nodded. "Okay, well, there's this guy who had I have a enormous crush on
and he asked me to go with him for coffee."
"Lace, that's awesome," Nichole congratulated her. "What's his name?
What's his story?"
"His name is Christian and he's a football player," Lacey admitted and
AJ pretended to look scared.
"I'd better watch out for Christian," AJ joked and Lacey laughed.
"So, Lacey, tell me about yourself," Nick told her, as they pulled up to
the nearest McDonalds.
"Well Nick, I like working out, hanging with Iesha, studying, and
volunteering, I guess," Lacey answered.
"Are we going in?" Brian asked them.
"Should we?" AJ replied. "What if everyone recognizes us?"
"Who cares?!" Nichole replied, as her stomach growled silently. "I just
want to eat."
"Okay, in we go," Brian said finally, and out they got. As they were
walking in, Lacey noticed how slippery it was, and Nick grabbed onto her
arm before she fell on her butt again.
"Don't fall again, Lacey," Nick teased her and Lacey laughed.
"I promise I won't," Lacey said laughing herself, as they walked through
the front doors. She noticed as soon as they walked in, the whole
restaurant became quiet, and everyone just stared at them. Nichole and
Travis stood off set from everyone, and looked over the menu by
themselves, as she heard Travis' cell phone ring. Lacey watched as
Travis grew worried and then, Nichole grew worried as well.
"Guys, Travis has got to go to work because one his co-workers had an
car accident," Nichole told everyone frantically. "We are going to get a
cab and go home. I'm sorry, Bye Lacey. Talk to ya later." Nichole and
Travis hurried out the door, leaving Lacey with AJ, Nick, and Brian.
"I hope she's okay," Lacey said softly, as she glanced after Nichole and Travis.
"Me too," Brian commented, as they looked out the window, to see a huge
snowstorm beginning.
"Iesha, I hope she makes it to South Africa okay," Lacey added and they
all looked at her.
"Maybe we should go back to the motel," AJ suggested, as he became
worried. "It's okay about three miles from here, and Lacey, you can come
back with us because of the storm."
"I agree," Nick said. "My mom didn't really want us going out tonight
because the storm looks really bad." Lacey and the guys left in silence,
as the snowflakes fell around them, and Lacey became very worried about
everyone, including herself.
"Lacey, have you been to the Skydome Hotel?" Brian asked her, when they
were safely in the limo.
"No, actually just to the Skydome for a baseball game," Lacey answered.
"Is that where you're staying? I thought you'd be staying at the Royal
York or something like that."
"Actually, the Skydome was the only place that was avaliable because we
just booked the motel rooms yesterday," Brian replied and Lacey nodded.
They arrived at the motel, and Lacey was amazed at how nice it was. They
went to the underground parking, and were met by about five bodyguards.
hey nodded hello at Lacey, and the guys were escorted onto the
elevators, and then up to the lobby, where they immediately headed
towards the penthouse level. Lacey was nervous because she had never
experienced anything like this before, and had to keep pinching herself
to show that this was reality.
"Lacey, you are awfully quiet," AJ told her and Lacey looked up in surprise.
"Am I? Sorry, I was just thinking about the snowstorm and I hope
everyone is really okay," Lacey answered, as they entered onto the
elevator. She noticed everyone looking at her and she felt embarrassed
of how she was going on.
"Lacey, they'll be okay," Brian assured her, smiling at her. She smiled
back, as she hoped he was right.
Iesha Keshawn could not believe her luck. Canadian
Airlines had cancelled the flight due to the enormous snowstorm that had
just came out of nowhere, and now Iesha was stuck at the airport with
nobody. She tried contacting Lacey, but there was no answer and her
father was long gone to Japan. She sat down on a nearby bench, and just
started crying. This was supposed to be a good Christimas, but now she
was stuck at the airport by herself.
"I can't believe this happening," yelled a familiar male voice that made
Iesha jump up. She looked over to see her father standing there,
standing angrily into a cellular phone, carrying a briefcase.
"Daddy?" Iesha whispered, as she walked towards him.
"Iesha, you haven't left yet?" Mr.Keshawn said, pressing the end button
on his cell phone.
"Daddy, how could you do this to our Christmas? How could you not even
want to see your only daughter on Christmas?" Iesha cried, as tears
cascaded down her face.
"Iesha, the meeting is important," Mr.Keshawn tried to explain, but he
knew he could never convince his own daughter.
"More important than your own flesh and blood?" Iesha screamed and
people started to stare.
"Of course not honey, you are the most important thing to me in the
world," Mr.Keshawn hugged Iesha, as tears flooded down her face.
"Daddy, I miss you so much when I'm in South Africa," Iesha whispered
into his ear. "I hoped that when I came to Canada, we could have a good
relationship, that we could become close again."
"Oh Iesha, I wished for that as well," Mr.Keshawn replied, kissing her
own the forehead. "You are my baby."
"Daddy, can you please cancel your business meeting and spend some time
with me now? Please?" Iesha pleaded, and for the first time, Mr.Keshawn
looked deep into his daughter's eyes and he saw the four-year-old little
girl, he has lost so suddenly 14 years before, and a glowing sensation
of regret and love spread throughout his soul, heart, and mind.
"Iesha, I will, I love you," Mr.Keshawn said softly.
"I love you too daddy," Iesha whispered back and they hugged again.
************************************************
Lacey walked in behind Brian, Nick, and AJ to see
several people hanging around, including some she recognized and others
she didn't. She noticed Nick and Brian took out their room keys to their
rooms and went in. AJ said he was sharing with Howie, and that they
would be back in a minute. Lacey took the oppurtunity to see the others,
and she recognized one of their BSB managers named Donna Wright. She
hadn't seen her at the video shoot, unless she had been there, but none
of the models saw her.
"Wow, hey Lacey!" said a familiar voice and Lacey turned to see Keiki
standing there with Christian.
"Hi, nice to see you again," Christian smiled at her and Lacey just
stared at him. Several thoughts went through her head, as she looked
from Keiki to Christian and back again trying to figure out how they
know each other.
"Lacey, meet my older brother Christian," Keiki introduced them and
Lacey nodded understanding now what was going on.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Lacey laughed. "I was like, what are you doing here?!"
"Thanks a lot," Christian teased her and Keiki laughed smiling.
"So, why are you up here?" Lacey wanted to know.
"Well, our dad produced the BSB video, he owns the company that provided
the location this morning," Keiki explained. "And we are just attending
a business meeting because they are just going over finaly preparations
for the video. It was awesome. I was so excited to have the oppurtunity
to do it."
"So, you didn't know about the video?" Lacey asked Christian, as she saw
Brian and Nick walk out of their room.
"No," Christian answered honestly. "I've been so wrapped up in school, I
had no idea what my family was doing."
"Hey you," Brian said to Keiki when she saw her. "How are you?"
"Hi Brian and Nick," Keiki beamed proudly. Her friends were going to die
when they found out the BSB recognized her instantly.
"So, what shall we do now?" Nick asked Lacey and Lacey smiled at him.
"How about we go for that coffee Lacey?" Christian asked her and Lacey beamed.
"Sure, that'd be cool," Lacey answered.
"Wait a minute, you are the Christian we've been hearing about all
night?" Brian asked Christian and he looked confused.
"Omigoodness, this is priceless," Keiki shrieked as Lacey went red and
everyone looked at Lacey.
"What's going on here?" Christian asked Lacey and Lacey just started
laughing with Keiki.
"Oh guys, this is way too much," Lacey said and Keiki started
screeching. "Okay, here it is. I run into my crush as I am upstairs
hanging out with the Backstreet Boys when there's a snowstorm outside.
This is way too much."
"Oh, okay," Christian said looking even more puzzled.
"Forget it Christian," Keiki told him. "So, Brian and Nick, what are you
up to now?"
"Well, Keiki, we decided to do something fun," answered Brian as they
saw AJ and Howie join them. "How about you all come?"
"Actually, I have to go," Christian replied as he pressed the elevator
button. "Maybe we can get that coffee sometime later Lacey.Kei, are you coming?"
"I guess so," Keiki answered shaking her head and she headed after Christian.
"Wow, my day has been so wierd," Lacey sighed, as she collasped on a
nearby couch.
"So has mine," Nick commented, and he collasped in chair on the other
side of her."I can't believe that guy is the Christian one you've been talking
about," AJ said as his cell phone rang. "Excuse me."
"It's his woman," Brian teased AJ and Lacey laughed. "I should call my
girlfriend as well. See you two in a few."
"So, Nick, what's up?" Lacey asked smiling at him. Nick couldn't believe
how much more confident she was this afternoon from the video shoot that
morning.
"Nothing much Lacey," Nick answered standing up. "You know, we never had
dinner. Want to order some pizza?"
"Sounds good to me," Lacey replied, and she followed him into his motel
room. Well, it wasn't exactly a motel room, it was like a mini apartment
with two separate bedrooms, a kitchenette, and a small livingroom.
"Hello Nick and-?" Donna said as they passed her.
"Hi, I'm Lacey, Mrs.Wright," Lacey smiled and Donna said hello, but she
looked like she was in a hurry.
"So, you know who my manager is?" Nick wanted to know, as he picked up
the room service menu, and they decided to order three pizzas because =
they knew everyone would be hungry. Nick ordered it, as Lacey flicked on
the television to Muchmusic.
"So, are you travelling with your parents?" Lacey asked Nick, as he
grabbed them two Cokes. Lacey smiled at she noticed his Nintendo set up
in front of the tv.
"Not this time," Nick replied. "We go home tomorrow though. I can't wait
to get home for the holidays."
"I should call mine," Lacey said standing up. "Can I use your phone?"
"Sure," NIck replied, and he handed her his cell phone.
"Can I use the calling card on this?" Lacey asked him and Nick told her
don't worry about it. She dialed her number, as her mom answered and she
explained where she was. Her mom said okay, and that her father would
pick her up at the Hotel in the morning, because she said Lacey could
book a room there if she wanted because the weather was bad.
"Everything all right?" Nick asked Lacey and she nodded putting the phone down.
"My mom wants me to stay here tonight," Lacey said. "She's going to book
me a motel room for the night."
"Well, you can stay on this floor because we have an empty room down the
hall," Nick informed her and Lacey beamed with excitement, as she
couldn't imagine any place better to be in a snowstorm, then hanging out
with the Backstreet Boys at the Skydome Motel, playing videogames and
eating pizza....
Email: catpolo@mailexcite.com